Inner Thoughts Of Love

Hi guys! This is my first fanfiction, posted on my tumblr first of course (alykat120 if you're interested). I don't own Fairy Tail of course ^^ That belongs to the great Hiro Mashima! And now onto the story!

He's as gruff as usual with the others, with the exception of his dear cat Lily of course, she finds herself thinking. But there is more of a teasing light in his eyes than she's ever seen before. She supposes that in their unwitting seven year gap that he's somehow gained some of Natsu's infectious ever humorous mannerisms. He still hardly ever uses her given name, but he's not doing as good of a job of hiding how his eyes soften as he believes he is when he ruffles her hair or calls her Shrimp or Shorty for the millionth time.

It's impossible to miss the way he's been acting lately and she wonders briefly is he's even conscious of these actions which she's internally come to deem his version of being affectionate. How close he always seems to be when they're sitting at the guild, usually with her nose stuck in a book and him watching her intently; she finds his eyes on her every time she emerges from one of her books. How he materializes just behind her when she's found a book she's wanting that just happens to be out of her reach, handing it to her with a soft grunt of acknowledgement when she thanks him.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts she finds her cheeks flushing a dark pink at his questioning gaze and immediately realizes that he's asked her something and is waiting for her answer. Scrambling to figure out what he's asked she quickly responds "Sorry Gajeel, I-" he cuts her off with his signature gihihi and grins. "I know ya zoned out again Shorty, even though ya were just listening not even a minute ago. I was askin' ya if ya realized how late it was. Aren'tcha supposed to leave with those two early in the mornin'?" At the last part he'd jerked his thumb in Jet and Droy's general direction, causing her to follow the movement and letting her see how dark it was outside.

She's not surprised to see that the moon and stars have replaced the warm sun. "Yeah, at dawn, which judging by the moon's position is in about six hours. I should really go home to Fairy Hills. Thanks Gajeel." And with that she quickly packs her books into her bag and makes her way to the door, saying goodnight to her fellow guild mates as she passes. She waves off Jet and Droy's offers to walk her home as she passes them and walks out into Magnolia's streets. Already lost once more in her thoughts, this time about tomorrow's job, she doesn't realizes that the Iron Dragon Slayer is accompanying her until her peripheral vision catches his arm swinging by her side. "Ya shouldn't be walkin' home by yerself in the dark." He states flatly, almost as if he doesn't care, though she can see how he's scanning the darkness for potential threats. Levy just nods, hoping that the faint blush covering her cheeks is lost in the dark, though she doubts it with Gajeel's dragon-like sight.

The two continue their short journey in comfortable silence until they reach the dorms' front door. She finds herself thinking that his presence is comforting, in a way that of Jet and Droys' never has been. "Thanks for walking me home Gajeel," she murmurs quietly with a soft smile. His eyes immediately soften at her smile and his hand ruffles her hair. "Goodnight… Levy." And without giving her the chance to say goodnight back, he turns and blends into the night, no doubt hurrying home to Lily. She blinks once, her hand touching where he ruffled her hair and sighs. "I'm going to have to say it first, aren't I, you big lug." Shaking her head she goes inside, her thoughts once again on the Iron Dragon Slayer that she's come to love so very much.